Website specialised on medals of 20th century?

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello!

Today I received the following book:

Military medals, decorations and orders
of the United Srates and Europe
by Robert W. D. Ball & Paul Peters
(Schiffer Military History)
ISBN: 0-88740-579-7

It is a wonderful book containing hundreds of coloured pictures of orders and medals from Albania to the United States. The photos are brilliant, but I miss all further information about the pictured orders (varoius ranks of orders, numbers of reicipents, names of recipents, etc.).

My question is: Is there a website with "further information" concerning orders and medals of the 20th century (especially WW1)?

Thanks in advance!
Volker Nemsch

Hello Volker,
I don't know of a website such as you seek. I would love to find one like it
Failing that, I have several books on my reference shelf which I could use to try to answer your questions if you tell me which orders and decorations interest you most. *No promises, but I can only try.
Regards
Liz

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello Liz!

Thank you for your repy!

The problem is, that I would probably ask for background information of about 200 different orders, medals, etc. (we would rise up our scores by 200 or more points).



Can you inform me about a recommended book concerning medals and decorations (names, ISBN-numbers, etc.)?

Graçias!
Volker Nemsch

[rammjaeger]

Congratulations to the new double seater pilot Volker!

Hello Volker,
First may I add my congratulations on your two-seater pilot status!
Running my tally up answering your questions is tempting...but I might run out of steam!
The book I always go to first regarding medals is *"Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil"
by Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO, RN ("Taffrail) in association with L.F. Guille. *My copy is one reprinted in 1970 by George Philip and Son, Limited, London with an SBN (pre-dating ISBN?) of 540 00192 9
I believe it is now out of print, but a quick look at some on-line bookstores has turned up a few second hand copies, various editions and prices.
This book is strongest on British orders etc, but also covers at least the major decorations of most other countries. *Very good on the various classes of orders, dates instituted, qualifications for receiving the award etc. Lots of illustrations, colour ones of ribbons especially. No lists of recipients though.

For more detail on strictly US awards I have "American Medals and Decorations" by Evans E. Kerrigan my copy published 1990 by Medallic Publishing Company, Noroton Heights, Connecticut, USA.
ISBN 0-9624663-4-4

There is also a magazine published in the UK called "Medal News" which could be useful. Their website is http://www.tokenpublishing.co.uk

Not a lot of information on the website itself, more a taster to tempt you to subscribe to the magazine.

One online bookstore I have yet to check, which may come good, is The Naval and Military Press.
Website is *http://www.naval-military-press.co.uk

AmazonUK had a few Dorling's listed in their zShops section. I think amazon has a German site as well.

If I think of anything else, or turn up anything online (per your original question) I will let you know. Meantime, good luck book hunting!

Regards, Liz

With the exception of some websites dedicated to specific awards (Victoria Cross, Congressional Medal of Honour) I have generally been disappointed with medals sites on-line. *The Australian War Memorial has a fair one, and of course there is the Canadian air awards site sponsored by the Air Force Association (see my post on this). *The following site might lead you to something useful - http://www.delphi.com/n/main.asp?webtag=me...cting&nav=start *- but overall my view is that, in this field, the internet really is "a river one mile wide and one inch deep" - better to invest in some of the books and book-selling sites already mentioned.